Share this article

PITTS BACKS NEW CITY CHARTER

City lawmakers should strongly support Buffalo's proposed new charter, which will be presented to voters in November, Council President James W. Pitts said Tuesday.

Pitts announced his backing for the new charter at a press conference on the steps of City Hall.

While he believes the 200-page document can possibly be improved through debates in the future, Pitts said he and other city lawmakers must lead the way in calling for its approval by voters.

"I think the most important thing now is to show there's strong leadership and strong support from the Council," Pitts said.

The proposed charter has been filed with the City Clerk's office and will be presented to the Council at its meeting next Tuesday.

However, by law, city voters must approve the new document and its proposed changes in a referendum this fall, or the entire two-year process of rewriting Buffalo's 1927 City Charter would go for naught, Pitts said.